42 years after adoption: PH commitment to UNCLOS solid

MANILA – The Philippines has marked the 42nd anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea’s adoption by reaffirming its commitment to the treaty.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the UNCLOS is universal and indeed a constitution of the oceans that serves as a “comprehensive legal framework for law and order in the seas within which all activities in the oceans must be carried out”.

“The Philippines takes immense pride in its contributions to the negotiation and the promotion of UNCLOS,” the agency said.

“Just as we played an indelible role in advancing the archipelagic doctrine, we will continue to build upon our significant footprint in enriching the law of the sea, through its three implementing agreements, including the BBNJ (UN High Seas Treaty) Agreement,” it added.

The Philippines, it said, would play an active role in deepening collaboration with countries and organizations that is anchored on common interests in ocean protection, conservation, management and governance.

The DFA said Manila’s commitment to the UNCLOS had been manifested in concrete actions over the decades.

From being one of the first to sign and ratify it, it said the country had aligned its domestic legal framework with the convention through the enactment of the Philippine Baselines Act, and more recently the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

While continuing to uphold its rights at sea, the Philippines had also engaged coastal states through discussions on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf, and the extended continental shelf.

“This readiness to engage fully within the parameters set by UNCLOS is a testament to our unwavering belief in the peaceful means of settling disputes, and the rule of law and the rules-based international order,” the DFA said.

Manila had also adhered to UNCLOS’ dispute resolution mechanisms through the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration, which rule that claims exceeding geographic and substantive limits of maritime entitlements are without legal effect.

The DFA then repeated its call on parties to comply with the ruling while recognizing the growing acknowledgment of it as “an unassailable part of the corpus of international law”.

“Today, UNCLOS continues to serve as the cornerstone for a peaceful and prosperous maritime domain, where the rights and interests of all States are respected and protected,” it said.

“As we mark this annual celebration, the Philippines reaffirms its dedication to uphold the provisions and the principles enshrined in UNCLOS in furtherance of our national interest and humanity’s aspiration for peace and prosperity.” (PNA)

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